Symposium on Developing the Capacity of Early Career Researchers


18 & 19 MARCH 2019 AT THE AUCKLAND PARK KINGWAY CAMPUS LIBRARY IN THE CHINUA ACHEBE AUDITORIUM, UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG

P R O G R A M M E

Chinua Achebe Auditorium | University of Johannesburg

DAY 1: MONDAY, 18 MARCH 2019

Programme Director: Prof Adam Habib
Vice-Chancellor, Wits University

08:00 – 09:00 Arrival, registration and refreshments
OPENING AND WELCOME

Session Chair: Prof Adam Habib
Vice-Chancellor, Wits University

09:00 – 09:30 Introductions Prof Adam Habib

Prof Tshilidzi Marwala

Vice-Chancellor, University of Johannesburg

Dr Joanna Newman

CEO, Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

KEYNOTE

Session Chair: Prof Adam Habib
Vice-Chancellor, Wits University

09:30-10:00 Keynote Address Honourable Minister Naledi PandorMinister of Higher Education and Training

Introduced by Prof Adam Habib

THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING EMERGING RESERACHERS

Session Chair:  Professor Mtose
Vice-Chancellor, University of Zululand

10:00- 11:00 The Importance of Supporting Emerging researchers

South African perspectives

  • The National Research Foundation (NRF)
  • The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)

Perspectives from across the Commonwealth

Dr Phethiwe Matutu, Group Executive, Strategy Planning and Partnerships of the NRF

Dr Diane Parker, Deputy Director-General, (DHET)

Dr Joanna Newman, CEO, ACU

11:00– 11:15         REFRESHMENT BREAK
BUILDING A CADRE OF EMERING SCHOLARS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

Session Chair: Professor Mtose
Vice-Chancellor, University of Zululand

11:15- 12:45 Key findings from the CREST report (referencing ‘The Next Generation of Scientists in Africa’ for wider context where appropriate),

  • Demographics
    • Motivations for research
    • Promotion / recognition for research
    • Barriers to research

The Ministerial Task Team on the Transformation of the Professoriate, its genesis, composition and work and recommendations

Dr Bheki Hadebe, Director, High End Skills, Department Science and Technology (DST).

Professor David Mosoma, Chairperson of the Ministerial Task Team on the Recruitment, Retention and Progression of South African Black Academics in our Universities.

12:45– 13:30       LUNCH
REFLECTIONS FROM ACU PROGRAMMES

Session Chair: Dr Joanna Newman
CEO Association  of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

13:30 – 15:00 CIRCLE

  • Experience of a CIRCLE fellow, Dr. Amon Taruvinga, University of Fort Hare
  • Supporting publication, Ben Prasadam-Halls, ACU
  • Mentoring
  • Institutional policy

STARS, Supporting the Next Generation of Researchers

Supporting the Next Generation of Researchers

Dr Amon Taruvinga

University of Fort Hare

Ben Prasadam-Halls

Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

Maria Tsvere, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe

Prof Johnny Ogunji,

Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

Prof Johnny Ogunji & Ben Prasadam-Halls

Ben Prasadam-Halls STARS

15:00- 15:30        REFRESHMENT BREAK
ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES:  GROUP DISCUSSION ONE

Session Chairperson:  Prof. Thoko Mayekiso
Vice-Chancellor, Mpumalanga University

15:30 – 16:45 30 minutes group discussion plus 15 minutes feedback and plenary discussion per topic

  • University policy & strategy
  • Institutional structures & planning
  • Funding for ECR support
16:45- 17:00 Wrap up day 1 Professor Adam Habib
17:30- 19:00 Cocktail reception for all delegates Madibeng Lounge, University of Johannesburg
 DAY 2: TUESDAY, 19 MARCH 2019

Programme Director: Dr Sizwe Mabizela

Vice-Chancellor, Rhodes University

08:00 – 09:00 Arrival, registration and refreshments
09:15 – 09:10 Recap of day 1 and introduction to day 2 Dr Mabizela
REFLECTIONS ON CURRENT INTERVENTIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Session Chair:  Prof Francis Petersen
Vice-chancellor, University of the Freestate

09:10- 10:10 National Schemes:

  • UCDG/RDG; nGAP & SSAU-DP
  • Higher Education Leadership and Management Programme (HELM)
  • The South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI)
  • National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS)
Dr Whitty Green, Chief Director, University Education, (DHET)

Dr Oliver Seale, Programme Director, HELM, USAf

Prof Sarah Mosoetsa, CEO, NIHSS

10:10- 11:10 University Schemes:

Prof Sarah Howie, Director: Africa Centre for Scholarship (SU)

Dr Gaelle Ramon, Manager: Researcher Development, University of Cape Town

Prof Stephanie Burton, DVC Research, University of Pretoria (UP)

Prof Angina ParekhDVC Academic (UJ)

11:10- 11:30            REFRESHMENT BREAK
ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES:  GROUP DISCUSSION TWO

Session Chair:  Professor Thandi Mgwebi
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Tshwane University of Technology

11:30– 12:45 30 minutes group discussion plus 15 minutes feedback and plenary discussion per topic

  • Training provision
  • Mentoring Schemes

Creating time for research

12:45 – 13:45           LUNCH
ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES:  GROUP DISCUSSION THREE

Session Chair:  Professor Deresh Ramjugernath
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, University of KwaZulu-Natal

13:45- 15:00 30 minutes group discussion plus 15 minutes feedback and plenary discussion per topic

  • Networking emerging researchers
  • Researcher mobility

Creating conductive research cultures

NEXT STEPS AND AGREEMENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Session Chair: Dr Sizwe Mabizela
Vice-chancellor, Rhodes University

15:00– 15:45 Recommendations for:

  • Universities
  • Funding agencies
  • National Governments / agencies
  • The ACU
15:45 Wrap up and close Dr Sizwe Mabizela

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